Belated Medal of Honor to Be Awarded to Soldiers Excluded Because of Race

Pete Souza / The White House (WASHINGTON) -- President Obama will award 24 Medals of Honor on next month, recognizing veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam, the White House announced Friday. The awards follow a congressionally mandated review of military records to seek out Jewish and Hispanic soldiers who deserved Medals of Honor but may not have received them due to discrimination. The review, according to a White House release, also uncovered some who deserved medals but were not Jewish or Hispanic.

"The 2002 Act was amended to allow these Soldiers to be honored with the upgrade -- in addition to the Jewish and Hispanic American Soldiers," the White House said.

Three medals will be awarded to living veterans who served in Vietnam, while another five will be awarded posthumously for service in that war.

Nine individuals will receive posthumous awards for their service during the Korean War. Another seven medals will be awarded posthumously for service during World War II.

The White House said the Medal of Honor, the U.S. military's highest honor, is awarded to "members of the Armed Forces who distinguishes [sic] themselves conspicuously by gallantry above and beyond the call of duty."